The Credit Score Dating App That Sparked Outrage Is Back — And This Time It’s Going Global

Remember Score, the dating app that required users to have a credit score of at least 675? The one that got called “classist,” “elitist,” and every other -ist you can think of when it launched just days before Valentine’s Day two years ago? Well, hold onto your FICO scores, because it’s making a comeback — and this time, it’s not just a 90-day experiment.

Luke Bailey, the controversial founder behind Score, has officially resurrected the app that made headlines worldwide for its unconventional approach to matchmaking. But this isn’t just a simple relaunch — it’s a complete reimagining of how financial responsibility intersects with modern romance.

From Viral Experiment to Permanent Platform

When Score first launched, it was supposed to be a temporary experiment — a 90-day window to test whether financial compatibility could be a legitimate dating criterion. Instead, it became a cultural phenomenon, amassing 50,000 users and generating enough buzz to keep it alive for six months before Bailey decided to pull the plug.

“I assumed the conversation would continue without us,” Bailey told TechCrunch. “It didn’t.”

Instead, the requests kept pouring in. People wanted to know why he shut it down. Academics reached out wanting to study the behavioral impact. It became clear that Score had tapped into something deeper than just a viral moment — it had exposed an unresolved tension in modern relationship culture.

The New Score: More Inclusive, More Features, More Global

This time around, Score is coming back stronger and more accessible than ever. The app is now available on the iOS App Store (last time it was just a mobile web app built in a hurry), and Bailey has addressed the criticism head-on by making it significantly more inclusive.

“Everyone can join,” Bailey emphasized. “We took the feedback that it was too exclusive, so now there are two tiers.”

The basic tier allows anyone to browse and connect without any ID or credit verification — perfect for those who want to test the waters without diving into financial disclosure. The verified tier, however, is where things get interesting. Members must verify both their ID and credit score to unlock premium features, using Equifax for verification with just a soft pull that doesn’t impact credit scores.

What You Get for Being Financially Verified

The verified plan isn’t just about bragging rights — it comes with some seriously useful features. Verified members can see other users nearby, check who’s saved their profile, send video intros to potential matches, and even message users before they’ve swiped back. It’s like having a financial head start in the dating game.

“We don’t store full credit reports or sensitive personal and financial data,” Bailey assured. “We simply receive confirmation that someone meets the Verified criteria.”

The app uses encrypted infrastructure and doesn’t sell personal data, addressing privacy concerns that inevitably arise when mixing finance and dating.

Why Credit Scores Matter in Dating (According to the Founder)

Bailey remains steadfast in his belief that credit scores are more than just numbers — they’re indicators of consistency and reliability. “Banks look for the same thing in customers that we look for in relationships — consistency and reliability,” he explained. “Dating apps measure attrition. We measure attrition plus accountability.”

It’s a bold claim, but Bailey backs it up with data from the original Score experiment. The app collected fascinating insights about how different generations handle credit. For example, millennial men had credit scores about 11% higher than women, but for Gen Z, that gap narrowed dramatically to just 3%. “We’ll be watching how that data evolved,” Bailey said, hinting at even more insights to come.

Going Global: From U.S. Experiment to Worldwide Phenomenon

While the original Score was strictly U.S.-only, this relaunch has global ambitions. Canada is first on the expansion list, with more countries to follow. Bailey is also teasing potential partnerships that could further integrate financial responsibility into the dating experience.

“Financial behavior is one of the strongest predictors of life stability,” Bailey stated. “We believe compatibility algorithms should reflect that.”

The Controversy Continues

Let’s be real — Score is still going to ruffle some feathers. The idea of using credit scores as a dating criterion is inherently controversial, and many will argue it perpetuates economic inequality. But Bailey sees it differently.

“It’s not a measure of wealth but rather one of consistency,” he argues. “Fifty-four percent of people say a partner’s debt is a reason to consider divorce. Financial compatibility is quietly one of the most important relationship factors, yet no dating platform addresses it directly.”

Whether you love it or hate it, Score is forcing a conversation that many couples avoid — money matters in relationships, whether we want to admit it or not.

The Bottom Line

Score’s return isn’t just about another dating app hitting the market — it’s about challenging how we think about compatibility in the digital age. In a world where dating apps match us based on everything from our music taste to our political views, why shouldn’t financial responsibility be part of the equation?

Love it or hate it, Score is back — and this time, it’s here to stay. Whether it becomes the future of dating or remains a controversial footnote in app history, one thing is certain: the conversation about money and relationships just got a whole lot more interesting.

Tags: credit score dating app, Score relaunch, financial compatibility dating, Luke Bailey, Equifax verification dating, controversial dating apps, fintech dating, millennial dating trends, Gen Z dating habits, relationship finance, dating app innovation, financial responsibility romance

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